May 31, 2000 Marriott-Slaterville studying idea possible trail system Survey shows residents support proposal, but funds not yet available By CHARLES F. TRENTELMAN Standard-Examiner staff MARRIOTT-SLATERVILLE - Residents of this year-old city overwhelmingly like the idea of trails, but it could be a long time before they're trudging down them. "First, we don't have any money," said Mayor Keith Butler. Then he said there are more basic concerns, such as whether people will have to lose their land to build a trail, or whether trails will increase crime and liability problems. The city found out about support for trails because of work done by students of Weber State University professor Bryan Dorsey. His geography students have been doing some initial planning work and studies for the city. This spring they did a survey on what the city should look like in the future. "We found that by far the majority of the residents were in favor of open space preservation," Dorsey said, "and that being an effort to preserve the rural character of the area." A lot of respondents are worried about encroachment of development, he said. Fear of being absorbed by neighboring Ogden, and being covered with development, was a driving force behind the city's 1998 incorporation vote. A majority of residents said they would use trails, he said. Two-thirds said they would use one at least monthly, and a third said they would use one weekly. But, he said, the survey also showed residents have some wrong ideas about trails. "The common perception was, and this did not come from the survey but from written comments, that people thought pathways might invite crime, whereas most research shows the exact opposite," he said. He said his students talked to the owners of Rainbow Gardens, which has a trail head to the Bonneville Shoreline Trail in its back parking lot. "They said the problems they had been having with crime in that area largely declined since the trail was developed," Dorsey said. "They liked that now they had people who were more conscious of the environment coming. People would come with their families and go hiking. So this is what the students were trying to sell to Marriott-Slaterville." Butler said the initial talk is a trail along the Weber River, hooking up with a trail now built in West Haven near Interstate 15. The trail would extend into Marriott-Slaterville, following the river. Butler said the city is aware that the idea makes some people nervous. "So we're trying to be real careful," he said. "We're not talking about taking anybody's land. We're just saying if a trail is feasible, and people would like it, that would be where we would like it." He said Marriott-Slaterville, which only incorporated a year and a half ago, doesn't have the funds yet for all the things that go with a trail, including maintenance and security. You can reach reporter Charles Trentelman at 625-4232, or e-mail ctrentelman@standard.net. 295